West Suffolk

West Suffolk's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 170,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of West Suffolk increased by 11%, from almost 154,000 to 171,000.

The addition of just over 17,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Suffolk was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Suffolk

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Suffolk increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 12% of people in West Suffolk are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and West Suffolk by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in West Suffolk

The number of people in West Suffolk that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 24,000 in 2001 to about 48,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Suffolk that described themselves as Christian remained close to 110,000 between the last two censuses (from 74% to 63% of the population). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 14,000 to about 13,000 (from 8.8% to 7.4%).

About 970 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 410 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population without a religion in West Suffolk increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and West Suffolk by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Suffolk

The percentage of West Suffolk residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.3% to 6.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of West Suffolk residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in West Suffolk at a faster rate than in East Cambridgeshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with West Suffolk).

In West Suffolk, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 18% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby East Cambridgeshire increased from 9.0% to 13%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in West Suffolk remained close to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 67% to 63%.

Private renting in West Suffolk increased by 6.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Suffolk, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Suffolk working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in West Suffolk decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Suffolk, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Suffolk residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of West Suffolk residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Suffolk decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Suffolk, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in West Suffolk, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.5% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Suffolk which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42% to 37%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in West Suffolk increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Suffolk, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in West Suffolk

The number of people in West Suffolk from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 150,000 in 2001 to just over 160,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 95%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in West Suffolk from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 2,100 in 2001 to about 3,100 in 2011 (from 1.4% to 1.8%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 1,100 to just under 3,100 (from 0.7% to 1.8%).

Just under 2,200 people (0.9%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 1,400 in 2001 (1.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in West Suffolk decreased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and West Suffolk by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in West Suffolk that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of single people in West Suffolk increased from 26% to 30%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of West Suffolk residents that were self-employed increased from 8.8% to 9.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage of West Suffolk residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.1%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in West Suffolk without children increased from 62% to 63% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 29%, while the percentage of households in West Suffolk with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.7% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households without children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 61%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of West Suffolk residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in West Suffolk remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and West Suffolk by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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